inspire-indiana Chapter 119 Keslan
Chapter 119 Keslan
Chen Xin and Jiang Yu stayed here for three days. The palace provided them with good food and drink, and even sent them different dresses every day. Apart from not being able to go out, they were treated like VIPs.
Although the emperor did not meet with them, he began to investigate as promised, but the emperor naturally had his own methods and channels.
What's giving him a headache right now is this young man from the Kong family of the Forest Empire. Taking advantage of being a distinguished guest, he keeps hanging around in front of him all the time. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was Jiang Yu's husband.
However, he was very satisfied with the Jiang family's attitude this time. They were behaving themselves, and even Fan Qingyin was not in a hurry to use the power of the Aurora Empire. The Lin family kid also stayed on the border.
As an emperor, he most cherishes and trusts ministers who are sensible, capable, and obedient. Therefore, he will certainly not betray their trust.
But... what's wrong with this smiling kid in front of me?! I saw him just this morning!
The emperor remained silent, glancing at him sideways, but the other man bowed and greeted him without any apparent concern: "Your Majesty, I wish you good health!"
Anhao, he's about to become the first emperor in the empire's history to be driven mad by annoyance.
The emperor inwardly grumbled, but outwardly replied, "You are still as considerate as ever."
"Are you still very busy with official business today?" It was almost as if to say, "Why aren't you finished yet? Can't you even check on my sweetheart's affairs?"
"Young man, your father raised you to be the youngest commander in the Forest Empire, but didn't he teach you that everything requires patience and haste makes waste?" The emperor was really annoyed by him. Love-struck people should die.
"Your Majesty, my father only taught me that things should not be delayed and that efficiency is paramount." Kong Yiche stood respectfully with his head bowed.
"Sigh..." The emperor heard himself let out a long sigh, and then said, "Well, you've come at the right time. Even if you hadn't come to me, I would have sent someone to find you anyway. Come on, come with me to see someone."
He then took the lead and walked forward.
Kong Yiche raised an eyebrow and silently followed, feeling a little happy inside, thinking that the emperor had finally found out something. He simply couldn't believe that Jiang Yu was the kind of person who disregarded other people's lives, abused his background to prey on the locals, and had connections to criminal organizations.
He kept his eyes on her, not only looking at her but also feeling her with his heart.
The two walked one after the other. The emperor did not take him to the usual place for meeting foreign officials, but instead led him to a relatively secluded palace. This palace was built on a high rock in a corner of the royal palace, so a long covered bridge was needed to reach it from the main palace.
This was Kong Yiche's first time here. He didn't look around, but simply followed quietly behind the emperor, unsure of who he was to meet, but it was clear that the emperor did not intend to summon him openly.
After all, the attendants who accompanied him stopped at the entrance of the covered bridge, and there were no guards or attendants standing guard on such a long covered bridge, so he had some guesses in his mind.
At the end of the covered bridge is a tall, carved door. The dark blue door appears almost black when not in sunlight, heavy and gloomy, with only the intricate gilded patterns reflecting a faint glow.
The emperor approached and gently pushed the heavy door open, revealing a narrow gap that allowed only one person to pass through.
He didn't push it away any further, but turned back to Kong Yiche and said, "Go in." Then he walked in first.
Even through the cracks in the window, it was clear that the palace was much darker inside than it was outside at dusk, with not a single ray of light escaping.
Kong Yiche was a little curious, so he followed the emperor inside. He found that it was indeed very dark inside, but it was not as pitch black as he had imagined.
The palace's interior decor was not as warm and bright as the traditional Ocean Empire style; instead, it was dark and somber. The black curtains completely blocked out the light, making it impossible to tell whether it was dark green or blue.
The intricate patterns on the wallpaper resembled dark shadows, while the pearls and gems inlaid on the wall reflected a cold, clear light, looking like the eyes of some animal in the night, giving off an eerie feeling.
It was impossible to tell how many floors the castle had from the inside. When Kong Yiche looked up from the hall, all he could see was darkness. Clearly, there were no skylights or any light sources.
The first floor was vaguely visible, as the huge fireplace directly opposite the door was burning brightly, providing both heat and light.
"It seems you've arrived." The door slowly closed behind them, and the emperor said in a low voice, looking at the roaring flames in the fireplace.
"Of course. It would be too impolite to trouble His Majesty the Emperor to wait for me." Kong Yiche heard a soft laugh from the darkness. The voice was elegant and textured, like the sound of a cello being gently plucked, echoing in the dim space, with a slight lingering quality at the end.
What a captivating voice.
But the voice sounded very young, and there was surprisingly little reverence for the emperor in the tone.
"Why did His Majesty the Emperor bring a friend?" Seemingly surprised, Kong Yiche's eyes adjusted to the darkness and saw a tall, slender figure standing up next to the high-backed sofa chair in front of the fireplace, which was facing away from them.
"For this meeting, I think it would be wise to have witnesses to ensure safety," the emperor said, sounding relaxed. "The young man I brought is the most outstanding young man in the three great empires today. Introducing him to you would be a good thing."
Kong Yiche immediately felt himself being stared at by a dangerous and scrutinizing gaze. The other person did not hide the aggressiveness in their eyes.
That gaze was sinister and devoid of emotion, making Kong Yiche feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Oh? That's my honor." As the male voice rang out in a magnificent yet sinister tone, a crisp snap of fingers echoed in the darkness.
Immediately afterwards, the wall lamps scattered around the walls of the hall lit up, but they were still extremely dim. The candlelight inside the lamps had an eerie greenish tint, giving them a ghostly feel and making people's hair stand on end.
Fortunately, the interior of the hall was much brighter now. The figure standing against the light next to the sofa became increasingly clear.
Kong Yiche remained silent, following the emperor toward the figure. He did not flinch, enduring the gaze that had been fixed on him the whole way, until he finally saw the man's face clearly.
The man standing beside the sofa chair remained motionless. His tall and muscular frame was tightly draped in a pure black cloak, with a hint of feather-patterned lining peeking out from the hem. In contrast to the seemingly understated exterior, the cloak's interior was clearly far more opulent.
His face looked unnaturally pale, as if he had been in a place where the sun did not shine for a long time. His features were handsome and profound, with a slightly hooked nose and thin, blade-like lips that made him seem unapproachable, noble and sharp.
What is most striking are his pair of clear yellow eyes, with prominent pupils, which, when staring at people without blinking, reveal a kind of emotionless cruelty.
The man also had medium-length black curly hair, which was meticulously styled, and a sparkling teardrop-shaped emerald was adorning his left earlobe.
"Commander Kong, let me introduce you to the founder and owner of 'Owl,' the actual power holder and the decision-maker behind it all," the emperor's deep voice rang out quietly.
“My former nephew, Keslan.”